On 20/06/07, David Sullivan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Paul: > >Having seen a close member of my family , who never smoked in > >her life, die of cancer caused by passive smoking your freedom > >to smoke comes at a very high price for others. > > Happened to a close friend of mine. He died at 59. > 59! Think about it.
My mother, father and three of my four uncles died of smoking related diseases. The surviving one suffers from heart disease which the docs say is a result of his smoking. I, of course - brought up with smokers about me - smoked myself. It is not predetermined that the children of smokers smoke themselves, but there is an overwhelming bias this way; and it seems to me that by eradicating smoking as a socially acceptable activity we prevent this process of inherited addiction which is the cruelest part of the habit. Yes, there is a libertarian argument about smoking bans, but I am afraid I can't get worked about about it when those who complain loudest about the erosion of their civil liberties in terms of being able to kill themselves, care not one jot when those same liberties are eroded by CCTV cameras, identity cards and the move towards a DNA database. I have been a non-smoker for 12 years now and I can see it for the vile habit it is. But if I was told I was going to die in 6 months time anyhow, I'd light up now. That's how insidious the drug is. And that's why the tobacco companies, increasingly deprived of their UK victims, are giving away cigarettes in the third world to ensure future markets. Smoking is stupid; that's wicked. Steve [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
